Tank car



R. C. PIERCE Oct. 27, 1936.

TANK CAR Filed April 8, 1935 l isili' mwm www@ m YIIIHHHHHHHUI llllll IlPatented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFQE TANK CAR ApplicationApril 8,

22 Claims.

My invention relates `more particularly, as

to one phase thereof, to anchors for tank cars;4

and as to another phase to the outlet legs thereof.

As regards the tank anchor feature, the invention relates particularlyto an autogenous welded anchor, and as to the outlet leg feature to thenovel coordinating of the leg with the 'anchor whereby it virtuallybecomes a part thereof.

Generally stated, my primary object is to so improve upon tank carstructures that danger of failures at the anchors thereof will bereduced to the minimum.

In this connection it may be stated that tank cars in practice aresubject to many different forces exerting different stresses at theanchored portion of the tank tending to impair the structure: in thecase of wear of the bolster slabbing the tank becomes partly supportedon the anchor resulting in shearing and bending stresses in the tankbottom; when cars are coupled together particularly when the slabbingfor the tanks has worn and the tank bands are loose, there are strongvertical forces acting on the ends of the tanks, the tank tends to jumpoff the slabbing at one end which tends to reverse the stresses in thebottom of the tank shell at the anchor and results in tensile forcesbetween the tank shell and the anchor: in addition to the above,twisting forces on the underframe are set up tending to twist theunderframe in a horizontal direction with reference to the tank.

Thus the stresses on the anchor and the bottom of the tank shell at theanchor and which much be resisted thereby to render the structure mostpracticable, are most complicated and of great magnitude, the forces ofthe greatest magnitude being longitudinal forces due to buing, thiscondition having presented considerable olifculty particularly in thedesigning of cars having welded tank anchors especially as welding tendsto change the structure of a metal to a considerable depth andintroduces stresses be- 1935, Serial No. 15,299

Figure 1 is a broken plan view of a tank car the tank shell of which isanchored to the underframe in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a broken sectional view, the section being taken at the line3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, the section beingtaken at the line 4 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tank shell and anchor,viewing the same from below; and

Figure 6, an enlarged broken view in cross` section through a tank shelland anchor constituting a modification of the construction shown in thepreceding figures of the drawing.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1-6, inclusive, "lrepresents the tank shell of a tank car and which may be of anydesirable construction; and 8 represents the underirame of the car shownas of the center sill type comprising channel beams 9 spaced apart andextending lengthwise of the car as commonly provided in accordance withwell known practice.

In the particular construction shown, the tank shell 'l is anchoredsubstantially midway between `its ends to the underframe 8 leaving theends of the tank shell to be supported on the underframe in any suitablemanner, as for example in accordance with common practice, to permit ofthe longitudinal movement thereof in contracting and expanding, the endsof the tank shell commonly resting on bolster slabbing and held down bytank bands (not shown). Y

The anchor shown comprises a section lil of T-shape in cross sectionextending along the .underframe and the bottom of the tank shell li, thesection i0 being formed of a pair of plates H of L-shape in crosssection (which may be pressings) positioned back to back at theirvertical flanges l2 with their substantially horizontal flanges i3extending in opposite directions along the underside of the tank shell'l to form a saddle therefor.

The plates ll when welded together at their ends and tack weldedtogether along their bottom edges before application to the tank shellform the T-section l0 which may be provided at less expense than were itto be formed of one piece, the portions of the section Hl where theflanges i3 bend outwardly to form the tank saddle possessing a smallamount of vertical flexibility which is quite desirable.

In accordance with my invention the tank shell 'I and the saddle-formingflanges I3 of the T-section III are corner or llet welded together butonly along lines extending otherwise than lengthwise of the tank,preferably along lines substantially at right angles to the median lineof the tank and thus substantially circumferentially of the tank, andthe reasons, generally stated, for thus welding the tank to the anchorare as follows:

Welding against the surface of plates tends to change the grainstructure of the metal and weaken the plates and while this tendency maybe more or less corrected by subsequent annealing and heat treatment,danger of the metal being weakened at the weld always remains and it istherefore highly desirable that the welded structure be so provided thatdanger from weakened plates by welding will be eliminated or at leastreduced to the minimum.

In the case of a cylindrical tank subjected t internal fluid pressure asin the case of tank cars the forces resulting from such pressure andtending to rupture longitudinal joints in the tank are twice as great assuch forces tending to rupture circumferential joints in the tank.

Thus by conning the fillet welds between the tank and anchor to lletwelds which extend only in a direction at an angle to the longitudinalaxis of the tank, preferably at substantially a right angle thereto andthus eircumferentially of the tank, the weakening effect of the welds isminimized as such welds are subjected to only one-half of the force thatthey would be subjected to if the welds extended lengthwise of the tank.

Furthermore, while welds made in any direction against the surface ofthe tank will supposedly be of equal strength the A. S. M. E. and A. P.I, welding codes, in the calculation of resistance to bumng stresses,allow a credit for 25% greater strength in welds where the forces are atright angles to the line of the weld than where the forces are parallelwith the welds. Thus by confining the fillet welds, attaching theanchors to the tank, in a circumferential direction only, not only isweakening of the tank in the direction of the greatest stresses to theinternal pressure avoided, but a 25% increase in strength against buingforces is obtained, due to the fact that the anchorage forces which arelengthwise of the tank pass through the short angularly disposed welds.

The location of the welds as stated is effected in the constructionshown by providing openings I4 in the anchor flanges I3, preferablyclosed at both ends and shown as elongated in a direction crosswise ofthe tank shell and welding these anchor flanges to the underside of thetank shell along those edges only of the openings I4 which extendcrosswise of the tank shell, namely, the edges I as illustrated, andalong the end edges It and I'I of the flanges I3, the openings I I ofthe series thereof in one of the flanges I3 being preferably staggeredas shown relative to the openings I4 in the other flange I3.

At each end of each opening I4 are reliefs represented at I8 which serveas means for limiting the welds at the openings I4 to the desiredlength, namely, of a length equal to the length of the edges I5 wherebyall of the welds extend crosswise of the tank shell, as the starting andstopping points for the welding are definitely delineated.

The anchor section I 0 is supported on the center sill 8 preferably byflexible connecting means shown as comprising a pair of plates I9 ofsimilar form in cross section having horizontal portions 28 at whichthey are riveted, as indicated at 2|, to the sill-beams 9, verticalportions 22 between which the vertical flanges I2 of the section I0 areinterposed and to which they are secured as by rivets 23, andintermediate downwardly bowed portions 24 affording to the plates I9 acertain amount of vertical and torsional ilexibility in a horizontalplane and at the same time effectively restraining longitudinal movementof the tank shell, permitting adjustment of the tank shell to wornslabbing and a certain amount of vertical action when the tank bands areloose.

Due to the Vertical forces acting on the anchor it is desirable toobtain a certain amount of flexibility between the outer edges of theanchor plates and the bottom of the tank shell. By

eliminating all welding within say about 1% inches to 2 inches of thelateral edges of the anchor flanges I3 and also by providing the reliefsI8 at the outer ends of the welds, which makes the anchor flanges weakerat the ends of the welds and therefore more flexible, a flexibleconstruction is provided which prevents concentrated bending stresses onthe tank shell.

Furthermore, in the particular construction shown the flanges I3 of theanchor are extended longitudinally beyond the vertical flanges I2, asrepresented at 25 thereby affording flexibility to the anchor betweenthe outer extremities of the vertical flanges I2 and the welds along theedges I6 and I'I of the flanges I3.

The structure also comprises an outlet leg for the tank represented at26 which is located in line with the vertical flange portion of theanchor section Ill, this flange section, together with the saddleforming llange portions thereof, being cut away to receive the leg whichis rmly secured to the adjacent ends of the vertical portion of theanchor section III as by welding it thereto as represented at 21. Theleg 26 is also preferably welded throughout its circumference to thewall of the o-pening in the saddle portion of the anchor through whichit extends, as indicated at 28.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that of the precedingfigures except that the T-section of the anchor and herein representedat 29 (the tank shell being shown at 3D) instead of being formed ofseparate plate sections as in the case of the T-section I0, is formed asa onepiece structure and contains a single series of crosswise extendingelongated openings one of which is shown at 3| and of the same form asthe openings I4, with reliefs 32 at both ends of their long edges asexplained of the openings I4, this single series of openings arranged toextend substantially equal distances beyond each side of the median lineof the saddle being provided instead of the double row of openings I4.The anchor 29 would be connected with the tank shell 3l] by welding itonly along those walls of the openings 3| which extend crosswise of theanchor between the relief portions 32 as explained above in connectionwith the construction shown in Figs. 1-4 and as illustrated at 33 of theone wall shown in Fig. 6.

While I have illustrated and described certain constructionsconstituting embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understoodas intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modied andaltered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded o-nly along lines disposed otherwisethan longitudinally of the tank.

2. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded only along lines substantiallycircumferential of the tank.

3. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded at intervals along the tank only alonglines disposed otherwise than longitudinally of theV tank.

4. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank towhich the tank is welded at intervals along the tank only alonglines substantially circumferential of the tank.

5. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded at intervals along the tank and at itsends only along lines disposed otherwise than longitudinally of thetank.

6. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded at intervals along the tank and at itsends only along lines substantially circumferential of the tank.

7. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for Y thetank formed of a pair of L-shaped members to which the tank is Weldedonly along lines disposed otherwise than longitudinally of the tank. 8.In a tank car, the combination with its runderframe, of a tank and meansanchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for the tankformed of a pair of L-shaped members to each of which the tank is Weldedat intervals along the tank only along lines disposed otherwise thanlongitudinally of the tank, the lines of weld at one of said membersbeing staggered relative to the lines of weld at the other of saidmembers. 9. In a tank car, the combination With its underframe, of atank and means anchoring the tank to the underirame comprising a saddlefor the tank formed as a one-piece structure and to which the tank iswelded only along lines disposed otherwise than longitudinally of thetank. 10. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tankand means anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle forthe tank to which the tank is welded, portions of said saddle extendingoutwardly beyond the welds and yieldingly resisting deflection of thetank. 1l. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tankand means anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle forthe tank to which the tank is welded, the welds being inset from thelongitudinal edges of the saddle wh-ereby these edges are free toyieldingly resist deflection of the tank. v

12. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is Welded along the ends of the saddle, and meanssupporting said saddle set back from the ends of the latter to permitthe ends of the saddle to yieldingly resist deflectionof the tank.

13. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andvmeans anchoring the tank tothe underframecomprising a saddle for thetank to which the tank is welded only along lines disposed otherwisethan longitudinally of the tank, portions of said saddle extending out-Wardly beyond the welds and yieldingly resisting deflection of the tank.Y

14. In a-tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank formed of a pair of L-shap'ed members positioned to form aT-member, and means engaging the vertical flanges of said members forconnecting the latter with said underframe, said saddle being welded tosaid tank, portions of said saddle at its longitudinal edges extendingbeyond the welds whereby said portions are free to yieldingly resistdeflection of the tank, said members having bends along the upper edgesof said flanges and free to flex at said bends.

15. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank formed of a pair of L-shaped members positioned to form a T-member,and means engaging the vertical flanges of said members for connectingthe latter with said underframe, said saddle being welded to said tankonly along lines disposed otherwise than longitudinally of the tank,portions of said saddle at its longitudinal edges extending beyond thewelds whereby said portions are free to yieldingly resist deflection ofthe tank, said members having bends along the upper edges of saidflanges and free to flex at said bends.

16. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank containing elongated openings the long dimensions of which extendcrosswise of the tank and welds connecting the saddle at the long edgesof said openings to said tank.

17. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank containing elongated openings the long dimensions of which extendcrosswise of the tank, said openings having reliefs at the ends of thewalls thereof of longer dimension and welds connecting the saddle at thelong edges of said opening to the tank.

18. In a tank car, the combination With its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank containing elongated openings reaching short of the longitudinaledges of the saddle, the long dimensions of said openings extendingcrosswise of the tank, said openings having reliefs at the ends of thewalls thereof of longer dimension and welds connecting the saddle at thelong edges of said openings to the tank, whereby the welds extend onlycrosswise of the tank and the longitudinal edge portions of the saddleare free to yieldingly resist deflection of the tank.

19. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle for thetank having endwise spaced apart web por- .tions, an outlet leg for thetank extending upsaddle portion containing openings presenting Wallsextending crosswise of said member and at which the member is to beWelded to a tank, said portion having reliefs at the ends of said walls,for the purpose set forth.

22. In a tank car, the combination with its underframe, of a tank andmeans for anchoring the tank to the underframe comprising a saddle forthe tank elongated lengthwise of the tank and to which the tank isWelded only along a longitudinal series of lines disposed crosswise ofthe tank.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE.

